Budding artists scribble and sketch at the Anandamela Surf Excel Children’s Festival. Picture by Rashbehari Das

What: Anandamela Surf Excel Children’s Festival.

Where: Parish Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral.

When: May 10 and 11.

Child’s play: Colours were splashed and balloons were burst as more than 500 children came together to celebrate a fun-and-games filled Mother’s Day weekend. Little ones — in oversized T-shirts, blue Scooby Doo duffel bags hanging from the shoulders, toy cameras dangling from the necks — kept busy with colour and moulding models out of coloured clay.

Nature and environment was the predominant theme of the festival. Day One saw the children take hold of brushes and colour boxes to paint on jute bags, T-shirts, clay pots and balloons. Some drew flowers while others just scribbled their names. They also painted cards for underprivileged children. Gift A Smile brought alive their imagination with everything from Durga and diyas to stars and beating hearts, which found their way onto a blank piece of chart-paper. While some took minutes, others were seen adding final touches long after the session was over.

The second day was devoted to Plant A Sapling, in keeping with the theme of the event, some live pottery and impromptu skits.

Evidence that the two-day event was a blast? “I have made two friends,” smiled eight-year-old Alina Ghazal, a student of Jewish Girls School.

Parent speak: “My daughter has really enjoyed taking part in the workshops. The most interesting aspect of such an event is that it allows children to interact with one another,” smiled Monimala Maitra, accompanying her seven-year-old daughter Yashodhara on Saturday.